Six arrests over 21-year-old axe murder

Detectives investigating the 21-year-old murder of a private detective who was about to expose police corruption have made six arrests, it emerged today.

Daniel Morgan, 37, was found in a pub car park in Sydenham, south London in 1987 with an axe embedded in his head. His family maintained he was killed by a professional hitman.

Police said today that five men have been arrested for his murder. A sixth man - a serving police constable - has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office.

Mr Morgan, a private investigator from Islington, north London, was discovered outside the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham on March 10, 1987. He had been struck repeatedly in the head with an axe.

His £900 Rolex watch was missing but the £1,100 cash he was carrying was still in his pocket.

It is believed he was about to expose a south London drugs network involving corrupt police officers when he was murdered.

That allegation was never substantiated by the former Police Complaints Authority and a series of investigations failed to lead to any prosecutions.

A re-investigation into his death by Scotland Yard was launched in 2006 following pressure from the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA).

During that probe, a number of significant witnesses came forward, Scotland Yard said.

As a result, arrests were made by investigating officers.

Today, three men, aged 53, 49 and 47, returned on bail to a central London police station. They had originally been arrested in 2006 on suspicion of murder.

Two others, a 53-year-old and 61-year-old man, appeared by appointment and were arrested on the same charge.

A 24-year-old serving Pc was also arrested at his place of work on suspicion of misconduct in a public office.

Police said his arrest was not connected to the murder, but to recent events linked to the other five arrests.

He is in custody at a central London police station and has been suspended from the force pending further investigations.

Assistant Commissioner John Yates, who is in overall charge of the re-investigation, said: "It has been over 21 years since Daniel's murder. Since that tragic event there have been numerous investigations into his death, none of which has been able to establish who was responsible.

"The one consistent theme throughout has been the astonishing determination of the Morgan family to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

"The current investigation has shown that there are still people out there who have highly pertinent evidence about this case. The arrests today demonstrate the Met's continued determination to bring those responsible to justice."

He added: "I also hope that these arrests are a reassurance to those in the community who also have information or evidence about what happened to Daniel.

"We have long said that within south London the identity of those responsible for the murder is one of the worst kept local secrets. I urge anyone with any information, however small, to get in touch with us."

Anyone with information is urged to contact the investigation team in confidence on 020 7230 5925 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.